Memorable and transformative events profoundly stick in our minds, this is the truth for many Americans who recall the 11th of September, 2001 – a day etched into our collective memory. Although I reside in the quiet haven that is Charlotte, North Carolina, I found myself amidst the whirlwind of New York City on that fatal day. The hustle and bustle of NYC was a new experience for me, a departure from my usual tranquility, but the biggest shock came later that morning in Times Square – the revelation of the simultaneous attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
While enjoying our breakfast in the heart of Times Square, the oblivious calmness was shattered by an abhorrent truth. A close friend relayed the horror, we were under assault. As we pondered the unusual flurry of first responder activity earlier, the dreadful news made sense. Still, at that moment, naively unaware of the scale of events, I yearned for the quiet serenity of my Charlotte home. However, the reality was harsher; our safe world was far away, Barricaded by several hundred miles and an unprecedented, unexpected halt in air traffic. Our quick and easy route back home was no more.
In a world suddenly devoid of the serenity I used to know, I knew my immediate role was to establish contact with my family. With the mighty towers victim to terror, relying on cellular service was futile. Earlier in the day, the unattended voicemail blinking on my phone, had raised my frustrations, but now understanding the circumstances, it was likely a desperate message from my mother. I was resolved to alleviate her fears and affirm our safety. I took my turn at one of the hotel lobby payphones, waiting anxiously.
Upon hearing my mother’s voice on the other side, a fleeting sense of tranquility washed over me, short-lived as it was. Then came the tear-filled plea for our immediate return home. I assured her amidst tears that we were doing our utmost, notwithstanding the likely delay en-route. To process the magnitude of events unfolding, we were fortunate to reclaim our room in the hotel we had vacated earlier that day. Upon our return, we confronted the unedited, raw footage of the events, painting a picture far more terrifying than mere words could communicate.
As we switched on the TV, the repugnant realities hit us in their purest form. The collapse of the towers, the desperate dash of the first responders towards the inferno, and the visibly doomed making their final leap, etching indelible images onto our minds. The sights, sounds, even the acrid smell of smoke from the carnage, all constitute memories I have carried since then. Our ultimate departure from the city involved chauffeuring ourselves in the early hours of that Friday morning, getting briefly lost in Queens within the labyrinth of unfamiliar avenues.
With my return home came an inevitable immersion in the ongoing aftermath and subsequent probe into the tragedy. It was revealed that Islamic extremists, wielding a perverse hatred towards our cherished liberties, were to blame for the crisis. The reality was a fresh sucker punch – my fellow citizens, their only sin the pursuit of freedom, had paid the price with their lives, all happening on home soil, within the confines of the freest nation on earth. This brutal assault, persisting within me like a raw wound, is revisited every year, particularly on anniversaries such as the 24th recently observed.
It goes without saying that tragedy hits closer to home for New Yorkers who have personally encountered loss, the 9/11 anniversaries bring about a tidal wave of emotions. To demonstrate such audacity, to speak carelessly of that day, would undoubtedly strike a nerve, sparking outrage and indignation among those who lost loved ones to this senseless act of evil. The juxtaposition of that day’s memories with the current unsettling climate in NYC only adds to the existing uneasiness.
Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, is currently the favored contender in NYC’s mayoral race, seemingly coasting through with the backing of many allies, despite a noticeable silence against his controversial stances rooted in pro-Hamas and anti-American sentiments, all under the guise of ‘diversity’ and ‘woketivism’. Mamdani shares a worrisome camaraderie with Hasan Piker, a figure infamous for his claim that ‘America deserved 9/11’, whose views align quite disturbingly with Mamdani’s stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Shockingly, Mamdani was unwilling to dissociate himself from Piker’s appalling remark, even a day before the 24th anniversary of 9/11 – an act that showcases his audacious character. This sentiment was aptly echoed, in particular, by Adams, who shared, ‘America deserved 9/11. Those are the vile words of Hasan Piker. Zohran Mamdani calls him a friend… And to this day, Mamdani refuses to condemn them.’
While the act of prescribing voting behavior is not within my context, it’s disheartening to envision a vibrant city like NYC under the leadership of someone reluctant to condemn those who disrespect and insult the memory of the innocent lives lost. A leader who fails to acknowledge American exceptionalism and sees America – not those who wish to harm her and her allies – as the issue.
Some might argue that electoral politics have no place in the solemn remembrance of 9/11. However, given the historical significance of the day and the potential future of NYC under current political circumstances, it is arguably the most appropriate time to address these issues. After all, we owe it to those who perished that fateful day, to reflect, but also to act, ensuring their sacrifice is not diminished, and our shared values devotedly upheld.
The post Memories of 9/11: From Tranquility to Chaos appeared first on Real News Now.
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